Connection member for connecting treadmill posts

ABSTRACT

A connection member of a treadmills a front plate and a rear plate which is connected to the front plate by bolts. Two first passages are defined between the front plate and the rear plate for receiving the two posts of the treadmill. A second passage is defined in the connection member for receiving a control panel post.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connection member that connects two posts and a panel post of a treadmill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional treadmill “A” is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and generally includes a base 10 including two separate items and a frame “B” with a running belt is located between the two separate items of the base 10. Two posts 11 extend from the two items of the base 10 and two handles 12 are connected to the two posts 11 so that the user may hold the handles 12. A control panel “C” is connected between the two posts 11 so as to control the inclination of the frame “B”. The conventional structure of the treadmill lacks aesthetic profile for the treadmill because the two posts 11 are usually made as straight posts 11 and no decorative members are used to improve the profile of the treadmills.

The present invention intends to provide a connection member that allows the two posts to be made in variety of shapes and can be connected to the connection member such that the treadmill has aesthetic profile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connection member of a treadmills and the connection member includes a front plate and a rear plate which is connected to the front plate. Two first passages are defined between the front plate and the rear plate for receiving the two posts of the treadmill.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 shows two conventional treadmills;

FIG. 3 is a front end view of a treadmill that is equipped with the connection member of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view to show the connection member of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view to show the connection member of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view to show another embodiment of the connection member of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view to show the connection member of the present invention as shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 8 is a front end view to show the connection member as shown in FIG. 7 of the present invention connects the two posts and the control panel post of a treadmill, and FIGS. 9-12 further show four embodiments of the connection member of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 6, a treadmill “A” includes two posts 11 extending from two bases items and a frame “B” with a running belt is located between the two posts 11. Two handles 12 are connected to the two posts 11 and a control panel “C” is located between the two posts 11. Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the connection member 20 of the present invention comprises a front plate 21 and a rear plate 22 which is connected to the front plate 21 by four bolts 211. The rear plate 22 has four tubes 221 extending from an inside thereof and the bolts 211 extend through holes defined in the front plate 21 and are threadedly connected to the tubes 221. Two first passages 23 are defined between the front plate 21 and the rear plate 22 for receiving the posts 11 of the treadmill “A”. The rear plate 22 has flanges 25 extending from an inside thereof so as to position the posts 11 extending through the first passages 23. Referring to FIG. 6 again, a second passage 230 is defined through the connection member 20 and located between the two first passages 23 so that a control panel post 13 connected to the control panel “C” is inserted in the second passage 13 and fixed by a bolt 211.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the connection member 20 may have two open sides 24 defined in two sides of the connection member 20 and in communication with the two first passages 23 so that the two posts 11 can be engaged with the open sides 24 in the first passages 23. A plurality of flanges 25 extend from an inside of the rear plate 22 and extend perpendicularly to an axis of the posts 11. Each flange 25 includes two recessed ends for positioning the two posts 11 and an central recess for positioning the control panel post 13 as shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 10-12 show four further embodiments of the connection member 20 which comprises four extension tubes 200 and 200′ through which the posts 11 and handles 12 respectively extend. By the connection member 20, the profile of the treadmill can be designed to include more aesthetic elements, especially to the posts 11 and the handles 12.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. A connection member of a treadmill which includes two posts extending from two bases items and a frame with a running belt is located between the two posts, two handles connected to the two posts and a control panel is located between the two posts, the connection member comprising: a front plate and a rear plate which is connected to the front plate, two first passages defined between the front plate and the rear plate for receiving the two posts of the treadmill.
 2. The connection member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear plate has flanges extending from an inside thereof so as to be adapted to position the posts extending through the first passages.
 3. The connection member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rear plate has tubes extending from an inside thereof and bolts extend through holes defined in the front plate and are threadedly connected to the tubes.
 4. The connection member as claimed in claim 1, wherein two open sides are defined in two sides of the connection member and in communication with the two first passages.
 5. The connection member as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of flanges extending from an inside of the rear plate, the flanges adapted to extending perpendicularly to an axis of the posts.
 6. The connection member as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least two extension tubes which are adapted to receive the posts.
 7. The connection member as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second passage located between the two first passages and being adapted to receive a control panel post. 